Jason Phillips

Hello Lyonsgate Community,

Next Friday, Nov. 26, is a PA day for the first set of parent-teacher conferences of the school year. If you have not had a chance to sign up yet, please do so by clicking here.

We have a number of items for you this week, and will be back to full classroom updates next week (but we do have a gallery of photos for you). Please see below for:

• Winter wear and weather.
• Lyonsgate clothing now available!
• Shoeboxes for Elementary.
• Toy Drive at Primary.
• Upcoming COVID-19 health and safety measures.

Winter Wear and Weather

With the winter weather definitely on the way, we want to remind everyone to please check the weather forecast each day to make sure students have the outdoor gear they need to stay warm and dry. You can check the forecast from the Home page at lyonsgate.ca; that link has been set for the forecast in the Aberdeen & Locke area.

A few tips for winter wear:

• Please label everything clearly and conspicuously.
• Avoid cloth or knit mittens when there’s snow on the ground; they become wet and hands get cold.
• Seek out boots, coats, snowpants, etc., that students can put on and take off on their own (as much as possible).
• Plan for extra time in the mornings to encourage independent dressing at home. Practice at home also helps set your child up for confidence and success.
• Label everything! (Thank you).

Lyonsgate Clothing Now Available

If you need some warm new clothing, we are very happy to announce that Lyonsgate clothing is once again available. Over the last few years we have been seeking a Canadian supplier and are happy to say that we have found a local company. Fresh Image Print will host a webstore for Lyonsgate where you can order Lyonsgate merchandise until Nov. 28. Items are available in toddler to adult sizes and if all goes as planned, will be delivered to Lyonsgate for distribution in time for the holiday season.

Shoeboxes for Elementary

If anyone has any extra shoeboxes taking up space, our Elementary campus is looking for them for their community involvement charitable activity — The Shoebox Project. More details next week from the Elementary students! They can be dropped off at either campus. Thank you.

Lyonsgate Toy Drive

As the holiday season approaches Lyonsgate will once again be holding a toy drive to support the Salvation Army. We are seeking new and unwrapped toys suitable for children up to age 14. The Salvation Army has let us know that they are very low on toys for children this year. Please drop off toys at the Lyonsgate Primary campus up to December 15. Thank you.

Elementary

The Elementary students were thrilled to go out into the community for Physical Education classes this week and find new opportunities to challenge themselves.  Whether they were improving their push-ups, learning to use a high block against an attacker, or climbing all the way to the ceiling, everyone showed tremendous discipline and courage in pursuing their goals.  We are grateful for this wonderful neighbourhood and our community partners, United Family Martial Arts and Gravity Climbing Gym. — Marissa and Michelle

Upcoming COVID-19 Measures

We have received direction from the Ministry of Education regarding COVID measures related to the winter break and information from Hamilton Public Health regarding vaccinations for children:

• Validation of screening will once again be in effect for at least the first two weeks following the winter break. You will once again find screening forms for Primary, Elementary, and Staff when we return to school on Jan. 3, 2022.
• International travel: unvaccinated children under the age of 12 who travel internationally with a fully vaccinated companion are exempt from federal quarantine but are not permitted to attend school or child care for 14 days following their return.

We are asked to direct all families to the federal testing and quarantine requirements found here: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid

• Vaccinations for Children: as you have likely heard, COVID vaccinations for 5-11 year-olds have been approved. There will be two child-friendly clinics in Hamilton, at Limeridge Mall and at Centre on Barton. Hamilton Public Health and McMaster University are developing video resources to show what to expect at the clinics and to address needle anxiety in children. A “Town Hall” is also being planned to share information with and answer questions from parents; in addition, child-specific educational resources will be available, as well as ambassadors to communicate in a wide variety of languages. Info and resources will most likely be posted on this Public Health web page.

Photo Gallery

If you would ever like the digital file of a photo of your child, please email jason@lyonsgate.ca with a brief description of the photo. You can click on any image to open a slideshow, and from the slideshow you can view photos in a fullscreen view.

Happy Friday Lyonsgate Families,

Friday, November 26 is a PA day and both Lyonsgate campuses will be closed to accommodate parent-teacher conferences. Parent-teacher conferences are 20 minutes in length and will once again take place via Zoom. Please look for a separate email closer to conference time containing the relevant Montessori guides’ Personal Meeting ID (PMI) and Passcode. At the time of your child’s conference simply open your Zoom app, click on “Join,” and enter the PMI and passcode as prompted.

Please remember to limit your conference to the selected 20 minute time slot so that we can keep everybody on schedule throughout the day. Thank you.

Please click here to select a parent-teacher conference time.

This week, the Toddler and Casa guides are sharing the role and importance of observation in Montessori, and the Elementary guides explain how Remembrance Day is addressed with elementary-aged children.

Please remember to label everything that comes to school with your child. Thank you.

Toddler

Observation is the cornerstone of Montessori. Maria Montessori was a medical doctor and a scientist and she approached her research on child development from this perspective. All of her theories and insights resulted from the many hours and years of observing children.

In the toddler community, there are many kinds of observation happening all at once! The guides are observing the children either formally (with a pen and paper) or informally making mental notes of things they see throughout the day. The children are observing the guides and also their fellow classmates. We are aware that the children are always observing and absorbing everything around them.

“There is in the child a special kind of sensitivity which leads him to absorb everything about him and it is this work of observing and absorbing that alone enables him to adapt himself to life.” Maria Montessori in The Absorbent Mind. [please excuse the dated language]

Virtually everything a child learns in life happens through observation of the world around them and then trying it out through their own experiments. The guides in a Montessori toddler community prepare the environment, but they must also prepare themselves to be excellent role models since everything we do in the environment will be repeated. If we want the children to sit while they are eating we must not walk around while we are eating. Toddlers do not understand double standards.

Observation requires a quiet and open mind, and a scientific approach like that of a naturalist. We are looking for new insights into what the children are trying to accomplish so that we can help them develop themselves into confident, independent people. It requires self-awareness to be objective and non-judgmental, curious without expectations or assumptions, and ready to see what is really happening so that we can be an aid to life. — Ms. Gervais

Casa North

Our Casa North team are big lovers of reading, so it feels appropriate to quote Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle) who said, “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.”

Maria Montessori had a background in science and medicine before she found education. She viewed the classroom as “a laboratory for the study of man,” which is why Montessori pedagogy is so heavily focused on observing its students. The belief is that we must observe our students to form an understanding of how to better meet their needs; it is simply not enough to expect children of the same age to know the same things, be interested in the same things, learn the same way, or need the same things. If we want to instill a love of learning we need to provide options and a proper environment, observe, allow each child to reveal themselves, and then follow that child.

I also want to thank our parents for their participation in signing up so swiftly for the Montessori Flower Arranging bouquet contributions; the students are loving the activity and have been deeply engaged with both the before and after care of flowers (check the gallery below for photos). — Ms. O’Sullivan

Casa South

Greetings from Casa South

A former teacher trainee said to me, after spending some time observing in my classroom, “I was always very fond of little children, especially my own, but until now I could never have imagined that they might be interesting.” I realized that this was a feeling I shared early on in my work with children; a feeling that has certainly shifted.

Young children continue to interest me more and more with the passage of time. I have watched them and been with them at many times and places, and I find not just more pleasure but more food for serious thought in what they say and do as they move and grow. I have come to feel and to hope that I will learn many interesting and important things about your children’s learning.

As I observe each child, I get to know what their interests are, what they are capable of, and how to adapt the environment to meet them where they are, as well as where they might be headed. I’m sure the journey will continue to be more than “interesting.”

Reminders:
Please remember to label everything (hats, mittens, etc.). With the approaching colder weather there is sure to be a multitude of belongings to keep track of. Also, sending in an extra pair of socks will be helpful when feet get wet.

Thanks for all your support; I’m looking forward to our parent-teacher conferences in two weeks. — Ms. Robinson

Elementary

This week the Elementary students worked toward a deeper understanding of the history and purpose of Remembrance Day.  They considered how large conflicts may develop and discussed ways in which they, as kids, can work to be peaceful in their community. They discussed truly listening to others, calmly offering their own perspectives, and approaching differences of opinion with respect.  Our Remembrance Day ceremony included a student reading of In Flanders Fields, listening to “The Last Post,” and displaying their handmade wreaths of poppies.
— Marissa and Michelle

HAAA Renewal Design: Over the last year, Lyonsgate Elementary students have been involved in the HAAA renewal process by submitting design and feature ideas. The final preferred concept design is being revealed via virtual Public Information Centre (PIC) presentations on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, Nov. 20, at 10:00 a.m. You can register for either PIC by visiting https://engage.hamilton.ca/haaarenewal

Hello Lyonsgate Families,

We have a few quick reminders and notes for you this week before you hear from your children’s classrooms:

• Remember that tomorrow, Friday, November 5, is a PD day at both Lyonsgate campuses.
• Also remember that the clocks fall back one hour this weekend.
• Casa and Toddler Families, school photo day at the Primary campus will be next Friday, November 12.
• Due to ongoing COVID restrictions, we will not be holding an in-person winter concert this year.
• Please try to be vigilant about toys and items coming from home, especially for our Casa students. They often cause distress and upset when they come out of pockets during recess due to loss, breakage, and others wanting to play with them.
• Elementary Families: if your child is in their third year of Elementary or above, remember to submit a release form for Gravity Climbing Gym before November 12: https://www.gravityclimbinggym.com/release-form.

Toddler

Bonjour. My name is Allie and at school the children call me Madame Craigie. I have been with Lyonsgate for several years and this will be my second year back since taking a few years off to start my own family. I personally feel very privileged to be able to come back and not only be a part of your child’s classroom, but I also have the wonderful job of speaking French! My background coming from Ottawa introduced me to the French language early on in my life and it really has followed me everywhere I go. This year my focus while I help guide your child in the classroom is to open their vocabulary up to many of the common words they would hear in English, such as: thank you, no thank you, yes, no, chair, table, washroom, clothes (shoes and socks, etc.).

Along with words, we are learning basic songs like “Brother John” and “Head and Shoulders,” which I will say are getting very good responses! Also, on some of our language cards we have the translated word in French which allows me to work with many children! I look forward to the rest of the year and all the many leaps and bounds I know each and every one of your toddlers will make.

Casa North

Bonjour,

My name is Fatia Murati and the children call me Madame. I’m the French assistant in Casa North and I’ve been a part of the Lyonsgate team for almost 10 years.
In September and October, most of my work with the students is French vocabulary. We enjoy a daily French circle with songs and stories for repetition, and I work one-on-one with Montessori Classified Cards (for ex. fruits and vegetables, farm animals and safari animals, flowers, and insects) and with all of the preliminary Montessori Casa materials (such as the Montessori Colour Boxes, Sandpaper Numerals, and the Geometry Cabinet). The students are also very drawn to special French materials I create such as a lunch box, family members, and people in the community.

I am so proud of the progress we’ve seen so far, and am looking forward to a great year en Francais.

Bonne fin de semaine.

Mme Murati.

Casa South

Bonjour! Salut tout le monde!

C’est incroyable, Septembre et Octobre sont déjà passés!

It has been wonderful getting to know the children these past couple of months. I especially enjoyed sharing with them some of my favourite childhood songs from long, long ago.
Tête, épaules, genoux, orteils…
Petit navire…
Sur le pont d’Avignon…
and more…

We worked on naming and matching animals, colours, and transportation. We sorted objects by size using gros, moyen, et petit. We are looking at froid et chaud and enjoy counting in French whenever the opportunity arises.

I have a must share moment too: I was working with a little friend with Sandpaper Numbers. As I was tracing and saying “SEPT,” the child corrected me saying “SEPT is when the sun goes down madame.”

So much cuteness!

Sincerely,

Madame Renée Perazzo

Elementary

The Elementary students focused this week on exploring the festival of Diwali, one of the largest religious holidays celebrated in Canada. They heard the epic story of Ramayana, following Prince Rama’s fourteen years of exile, the kidnapping of his wife, Sita, the great battle against Ravan, and Rama and Sita’s triumphant return home. Some students crafted diyas out of clay, and brought these to place in the beautiful rangoli designs created by teams of students using coloured salt. As each design was completed, the lights were dimmed, and the diyas were lit for a miniature festival of lights. Happy Diwali!

– Marissa and Michelle

Hello Lyonsgate Families,

Thank you for another wonderful week with your children. There is much Halloween excitement in the air. We always ask that Halloween remains a fun family event and that candy and treats stay at home and don’t sneak their way into pockets, backpacks, or lunches (for our Elementary students). Have spooky time this weekend and we’ll hear all about it on Monday.

Reminder: next Friday, Nov. 5, is a PD Day. Lyonsgate staff will be attending a virtual Montessori conference or working in the classroom environments.

This week we have news about a new community fridge in the neighbourhood, introductory words from the Casa and Toddler English assistants, and from Elementary some seasonal culture work, a required activity release, and a reminder about school photo ordering. There is also a photo gallery of the week at Lyonsgate.

Community Fridge

From one your fellow Montessori parents:

We are pleased to share that the neighbours of Locke Street and Blessings Church have opened up a community fridge to help address food insecurity to folks in need in the community. If you are unfamiliar with them, community fridges are a volunteer run, publicly accessible, low barrier resource, from which community members can get free food.

The fridge is located outdoors and is accessible 24/7 on the side of the Blessings Church at 115 Stanley Avenue. Signage will be up by October 28 to clearly indicate its location. Any member of the community is welcome to come take whatever they need, at any time, no questions asked.

If anyone wishes to donate, there is a pantry, fridge and freezer on site where you can come as little or as often as you like to drop off donations – every bit helps! Examples of much-needed items include fresh or frozen fruit & vegetables, bread, eggs, dairy & alternatives, commercially produced frozen meals, canned goods, grab-and-go snacks, cereal, baby formula, menstrual products, and hygiene items. Donation guidelines are available online.

If you’d like to learn more, or you are interested in volunteering, please contact the volunteer team by email at lockest.fridge@gmail.com or on Instagram @Locke.Street.Fridge, or reach out to one of your fellow Lyongate parents that is volunteering: rachael.collier@gmail.com

Toddler

My name is Brad but the children call me Mr. Davis. I am pleased to say that this is my fifth year as an assistant at Lyonsgate. This is my third year in the Toddler community and there is never a dull moment. There are so many firsts and new experiences that I am often in awe at the resilience and determination of the children. Some of my lifelong passions are baking and music, two things that I am happy to bring into the classroom and share with the children any chance that I get. We definitely have some musical talent in our classroom that I have seen firsthand during our jam sessions and post-nap dance parties. The Toddler banana bread makes the entire school smell wonderful. I am looking forward to seeing them grow increasingly more independent and watching their already big personalities grow!

Casa North

My name is Jessica Dewey and I am the English assistant for Casa North. I spend my day observing and working alongside your children, attending to their physical needs, and maintaining the classroom environment. I also have the privilege of spending each recess outside with the children, which allows me some extra opportunities to connect with the children and gain insight into their characters and interests. I have previous experience as an educator in play-based learning environments, which are quite different from the Montessori philosophy, and one of the most beautiful and important distinctions between the two is the three year age group. In the last seven weeks we have observed so much mentorship between our students, and some lovely (sometimes unexpected) friendships forming. This naturally fosters independence, cooperation, leadership, and communication, and greatly reduces the need for adult intervention or redirection. It’s wonderful to see such young children building a community amongst themselves.

I hope you all have a safe and happy weekend.

Casa South

Happy Friday Casa South families! My name is Ms.Sullivan and I am the English Assistant in Casa South. This is my third year at Lyonsgate, and my second as a part of Casa South’s classroom community. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing some of your children for the past year, and have been enjoying getting to know all the new faces this year.

As an English Assistant my role is to support the classroom, the children, and the lead teacher in a variety of ways. Whether it is preparing materials or reading a story with a small group, the assistant’s role is to help keep the classroom running smoothly. My most favourite part of my job is working one on one with your children or holding small groups. I love getting to see their personalities shine through in these settings. I also get to be outside during all recesses and watch all the social interaction, joy, and fun that recess brings.

This week has been a busy one, with lots of new presentations and fulfilling work with the children. I’ve spent a lot of time working on blank chalkboards practicing writing letters, numbers, and playing sound games with the children. As any week before Halloween, we’ve got to hear about some of the costumes coming up this weekend and the excitement is palpable. I love hearing the unique costume ideas the children come up with (my favourites this year are a taco, a sock in a shoe, and a shovel!).

I am grateful to have a space in your child’s life here at Lyonsgate and look forward to what the year brings for all of us. Have a safe and fun weekend!

Elementary

Elementary children love to explore cultural activities and traditions, discovering the history behind their own celebrations as well as investigating cultures different from their own.  This week, the students prepared to celebrate Hallowe’en by learning about its origin in the festival of Samhain, studying the parts and life cycle of a pumpkin, researching bats, painting ghosts, and of course, carving pumpkins!  We wish you all a wonderfully spooky weekend.  Stay safe and have fun! — Marissa and Michelle.

• Elementary Photo Ordering: Earlier this week, Elementary families received notification of a folder share containing the photo proofs of school photos and an email containing package and a la carte ordering instructions. Elementary families can place orders for packages or a la carte items using this order form. You can also access the form via the photographer’s website: https://www.tarasmithphoto.com/

Please note:

• • If you are ordering for more than one child, please complete a separate form for each child.
  • The deadline to order photos is November 1, 2021.
  • If you would like to order more than 1 copy of an a la carte item, please make a note in the comments section.

For any questions, please email Tara at: info@tarasmithphoto.com

• Required Release Form for Gravity Climbing Gym: On the mornings of November 12 and 19, Elementary students in the third to sixth years will be rock climbing at Gravity Climbing Gym. Please complete and submit the climbing gym’s required release form before Nov. 12: https://www.gravityclimbinggym.com/release-form.

Students will not be permitted to climb if a release form is not on file at the gym. Thank you.

Students will bring their clean, dry indoor shoes (must be running shoes) with them and should wear clothing they can comfortably move, climb, and wear a harness in.

• Karate: First and second year Elementary students will be participating in an introductory martial arts program at United Family Martial Arts, just down the street from us, during the afternoons of November 12 and 19. Students will need to wear clothing they can be comfortably active in.

• Reminder: Phys. Ed. on Thursday, Nov. 4. When there is a PD Day on a Friday, phys. ed. will take place on the Thursday of that week (there will also be phys. ed. on Thursday, Nov. 25, to accommodate Parent-Teacher conferences on the Friday).

Photo Gallery